BADAJOZ, Spain – Spanish point guard Jose Manuel Calderon said on Monday that his “only priority” is to remain in the NBA.

He commented at the presentation of the 7th edition of the youth basketball program he offers in Caceres.

“The kids will ask me a lot this year about which team I am going to play for,” said the 31-year-old Spanish international, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

While acknowledging some European clubs are interested in signing him, he said that he still has “much to do” in the NBA, where he has played since 2005.

After seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Calderon was traded in January to the Detroit Pistons, but expects to receive “good and positive” offers from other teams when the free agency period begins July 1.

One NBA watcher ranks Calderon among this summer’s top 15 free agents. EFE

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 07:28 PM

rocwell

He'll receive some interest from Raps... But I don't think so we can land him ( lol. ) Over the cap, plus we got Lowry.

He would be perfect for Lakers or Utah Jazz (coz Mo Williams sucks for Jazz playing style. )

So I got a feeling we'll see Jose in Toronto only with enemy's jersey. :(

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 07:46 PM

Apollo

He will have a lot of contenders knocking on his door.

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 08:33 PM

LBF

Jose is a class act. But, he is not coming back here.

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 08:34 PM

drunkmunky

I thought our complaints were that his style of offense was very transparent and his lack of defense made is scrunch up babies...

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 09:49 PM

Rapstor4Life

Lol No. Love ya Jose but guys move on the relationship is over. Raptors dont want to be the team.guy that holds on to their ex girlfriends phone number and reflecting on their sometimes pretty but overall shaky relationship its better to hit the delete button on that number and go meet other women.

Mon Jun 3rd, 2013, 10:40 PM

isaacthompson

As much as I'd like him to come back, there's no chance of this happening. From Jose's point of view, I'm sure he loves this city, but I don't think he wouldn't welcome an opportunity to return with open arms, especially since we just traded him. It has to be somewhat insulting to him that we would trade him just to come running after him again in the offseason.

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 01:40 AM

ReubenJRD

Quote:

Rapstor4Life wrote:

Lol No. Love ya Jose but guys move on the relationship is over. Raptors dont want to be the team.guy that holds on to their ex girlfriends phone number and reflecting on their sometimes pretty but overall shaky relationship its better to hit the delete button on that number and go meet other women.

You're 16, how do you know any of that? Do you get the bitches?

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 01:41 AM

ReubenJRD

Quote:

isaacthompson wrote:

As much as I'd like him to come back, there's no chance of this happening. From Jose's point of view, I'm sure he loves this city, but I don't think he wouldn't welcome an opportunity to return with open arms, especially since we just traded him. It has to be somewhat insulting to him that we would trade him just to come running after him again in the offseason.

Felton did it, or was that by trade?

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 04:12 AM

d749

love the guy, would hate to have to watch him in a raps uniform again
i would rather watch the iso and long 2 game then watch him dribble for days

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 06:01 AM

rocwell

Quote:

Rapstor4Life wrote:

Lol No. Love ya Jose but guys move on the relationship is over. Raptors dont want to be the team.guy that holds on to their ex girlfriends phone number and reflecting on their sometimes pretty but overall shaky relationship its better to hit the delete button on that number and go meet other women.

Quote:

ReubenJRD wrote:

You're 16, how do you know any of that? Do you get the bitches?

:D

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 06:15 AM

enlightenment

Jose calderon would be amazing on our team.

High percentage shooter from everywhere, knows how to set up his big men, P&R specialist, and effective in limited minutes off the bench.

Now the real question is, do we have enough exceptions to afford an $8mil contract? Will he sign for $5mil?

I think we should focus on if its possible, not if its beneficial

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 08:39 AM

Nilanka

IMO, Calderon is one of the strange players who blur the distinction between starter and reserve. Not quite good enough to be an everyday starter (on a legit team), but far too good to be playing just 15-20 minutes per night.

I would prefer to fill the roster with players whose roles are clearly defined.

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 08:49 AM

c_bcm

Bringing Jose back would be a little awkward don't you think? You get shipped out so somebody else can do the job, only to be brought back and play with the player who has the job you used to have. Its not like MLSE has a track record of making awkward working conditions for its employees....

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 09:10 AM

Craiger

Quote:

c_bcm wrote:

Bringing Jose back would be a little awkward don't you think? You get shipped out so somebody else can do the job, only to be brought back and play with the player who has the job you used to have. Its not like MLSE has a track record of making awkward working conditions for its employees....

Could really use it to give Colangelo a smack in the face. Trade Gay for a s&t with Jose + tpe :p

The comedy alone would be worth it. (and no I'm not advocating that trade)

Quote:

IMO, Calderon is one of the strange players who blur the distinction between starter and reserve. Not quite good enough to be an everyday starter (on a legit team), but far too good to be playing just 15-20 minutes per night.

I would prefer to fill the roster with players whose roles are clearly defined.

I don't think thats a problem. Jose, to me, is a clear starting calibre PG. Colangelo just tried to convince us he wasn't because Jose's biggest weakness (D) amplified Bargnani's biggest weakness (D) further amplified by having no other good/versatile wing defender. Anything to hide Bargnani was Colangelo's game for years.

I used on/off +/- early in the season to show that Jose's had little impact on the teams overall D over the years (well my opinion on it anyways). The team's overall D vs his minutes had a very small relationship over the years. Andrea's D + minutes had a huge relationship. Jose definetely didn't benifit the team defensively, but his negative impact wasn't very significant, or atleast much less significant than others (namely, Bargnani).

He's a top notch offensive player, and his D isn't a huge issue in today's NBA. PGs are always going to have difficulty covering other PGs with how the NBA rules have changed. Its needing a good defensive big who can protect the rim/paint and a good perimeter defender, particularily one that can cover numerous positions (ie. the other teams best offensive player on the perimeter) that makes a world of difference.

(Not saying Jose as a back up doesn't make sense, or that going after Jose makes sense either)

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 09:33 AM

slaw

Quote:

Apollo wrote:

He will have a lot of contenders knocking on his door.

The Pacers sure could use Jose Calderon.....

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 09:50 AM

Fully

In theory Calderon is a good fit as our back up PG but there is no way this is ever happening.

For starters, Calderon is probably going to get bigger offers from better teams (and ones that didn't supplant him from the only North American city he's ever called home in favour of a guard that he outperformed for most of the season).

Plus why would Ujiri rekindle the Lowry/Calderon/Casey drama as one of his first orders of business? His plan is for the Raptors to turn the corner and move on from all the futility - not willingly spend to bring the same problems back.

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 10:35 AM

Apollo

Quote:

slaw wrote:

The Pacers sure could use Jose Calderon.....

So could the Knicks. He would be perfect for the Knicks.

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 11:38 AM

Rapstor4Life

Quote:

ReubenJRD wrote:

You're 16, how do you know any of that? Do you get the bitches?

just turned 17 :D and I've been studying under Heinz about "Bitches 101"

Tue Jun 4th, 2013, 11:42 AM

CalgaryRapsFan

My heart says "yes", but my head says "unfortunately, no".

This team needs a fresh start, a new identity, a break from the past and younger players that can develop together with the future in mind. While a veteran presence would be beneficial, especially to the 2nd unit, I think Calderon represents too much of the "old" and not enough of the "new".